Just a mini four-game slate on Thursday night in the Association. On small slates like this, my goal is to find the best point per dollar option on each team to spread out the risk for Cash games and maximize upside in GPPs. So, in today’s free Droppin’ Dimes you will find my top player from each team along with a couple bonus options depending on the site you are playing on and positional needs.
The grid below is a snapshot of today’s slate that shows the overall rating for each position for each team. The numbers highlighted in red are the positions that are in the top 25% of their position for the slate and indicate good plays. Meanwhile, the numbers highlighted in blue are the positions that are in the bottom 25% of their respective position for the slate and are positions to avoid.
Hot Sheet for March 1st
Droppin’ Dimes
LeBron James (CLE) – The Cavaliers you need to start at the top and go with LeBron. He has and will continue to carry the offense with Isaiah Thomas out of town and Kevin Love out with an injury. He has averaged 30.0 points, 13.5 rebounds and 9.5 assists in two previous matchups against the Sixers this season and should continue to provide big numbers on Thursday. The only other consideration for the Cavs was George Hill coming off a strong game and reasonably priced.
Ben Simmons (PHI) / Robert Covington (PHI) – For the Sixers top option(s) it comes down to positional needs. While Joel Embiid is always a solid option, there are a variety of other centers that I like better for their price on the slate. So, look to the Sixers’ forwards for their top DFS plays with Simmons and Covington both covering tough positions to fill on the slate. I especially like Covington on this slate in this matchup. He hasn’t been great for a while but I have a gut feeling he is due for a breakout game against a Cavs’ defense that has allowed the 3rd most points to opposing SFs over their last five games.
Goran Dragic (MIA) / Dwyane Wade (MIA) – A pair of Heat players on my list today, Dragic is by far my favorite play between them today but both are in a pace up spot against the Lakers. The Lakers have allowed top 10 production in points, rebounds, assists and steals to opposing PGs. They have also allowed the 6th most points to opposing SGs this season. Wade is coming off his best game since rejoining the Heat 27 points on Tuesday and should get at least 25 minutes with both Wayne Ellington and Tyler Johnson out.
Lonzo Ball/Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (LAL) – The top options on the Lakers come from the backcourt where Ball should continue to see his minutes rise to close to 30 tonight, while Caldwell-Pope has been on a roll lately averaging 16.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists. Both have good upside for GPPs and should see enough minutes with Josh Hart out to play in Cash also.
CJ McCollum (POR) – Sure, Damian Lillard has been fire lately but on a small slate without a lot of cheap value options, I’ll go with McCollum instead who is also capable of lighting up the scoreboard with a solid floor and big minutes. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves have allowed top 6 production in points, rebounds, assists and blocks over their last five games (two without Jimmy Butler).
Jamal Crawford (MIN) – On the Timberwolves side, there actually isn’t much I like as most of the players’ salaries have been properly adjusted following the injury to Jimmy Butler. The one guy who could still be a value is Crawford. He has performed well against the Blazers this season putting up 17.3 points per game over three meetings and now gets a minutes increase with Butler out. He won’t supply much other than points but that should be all he needs to reach 5x his salary.
Willie Cauley-Stein (SAC) – It is hard to trust players for the Kings with the somewhat unpredictable rotations and late scratches. However, one of the most consistently reliable options is Cauley-Stein who has played at least 28 minutes in five of his last six games and has topped 30 minutes in three straight outings. He gets the best matchup he can ask for in a pace up spot against the Nets who have allowed the 2nd most points, most rebounds and 2nd most blocks to opposing big men this season. Other Kings’ players to consider are De’Aaron Fox (Cash) and Skal Labissiere (GPP, especially if Zach Randolph gets a rest day).
Jarrett Allen (BKN) – With the Nets in play for next year mode, Allen has seen his minutes increase into the mid-20s since the All-Star break. He has responded by averaging 13.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. His length and athleticism will be needed to match up against the Kings frontcourt with Cauley-Stein and Labissiere.
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